Third-Party Criminal Acts
Overview
The third-party criminal acts of others can result in premise liability on a property owner. Focusing on the facts in such cases and the intent of the third party to engage in behavior not authorized or otherwise sanctioned by the property owner is key to obtaining a successful outcome.
Our attorneys routinely handle such matters and in a recent case involving liability against a bar owner, a successful defense was presented. The death of a patron outside the bar resulted when another patron punched the decedent after leaving the establishment. Plunkett Cooney successfully argued there was no liability based on the fact that the punch was held to be a third party criminal act, which was not foreseeable without prior notice to the premise owner, and thus the case resulted in no liability for the premises owner.
